With all the peace and quiet around me, I took it upon myself to enjoy a sugar rush – everything in moderation, of course – and checked out two new businesses and a new dessert menu in the Spokane area. My sister Michelle Harmon, a teacher in Spokane, joined me for the first two stops.

Like an 18th century sailor mapping out a series of Caribbean islands on a rum-running escapade, vegans and vegetarians will often ping-pong around a city bouncing from store to store in search of their preferred plant-based fix. A true first world problem.

For the past few springs and summers, hard seltzer water has been swallowing up a sizable chunk of beer and wine market share nationwide, and, more importantly, it has found itself in the hands of young, health-focused, thirsty connoisseurs.

Originating in China, the world’s largest peach producer, the fuzzy and juicy fruit grows in two ways: clingstone and freestone. Clingstone means the flesh adheres to the seed, while freestone peaches separate more easily from the pit.

Appreciation for Washington chardonnay is on the rise. The Washington State Wine Commission lists the plantings of chardonnay at 7,403 acres. That amounts to about 13% of the state’s 58,000 acres of vineyards.

Joanna James, Mareya Ibrahim and Anita Lo spoke before an audience at the Bing Crosby Theater on Saturday after a screening of "A Fine Line," an award-winning documentary about women in the food industry directed by James. The event was part of The Spokesman-Review’s Northwest Passages Book Club.

Eat Cleaner CEO and founder Mareya Ibrahim is a chef, entrepreneur, nutrition coach, author and inventor, and her latest book, titled “Eat Like You Give a Fork: The Real Dish on Eating to Thrive,” was released by St. Martin’s Press on June 4. The Orange County resident is headlining the Northwest Passages Main Stage at the 2019 Crave Food and Drink Celebration at CenterPlace Regional Event Center in Spokane Valley on Saturday.

I consider myself much more of a beer enthusiast than an expert, so if I don’t know the answer, I bet that I can find someone who does. My main hope is to provide insight on the breweries, bars and – most importantly – people who make the Inland Northwest a world-class beer destination.

While much of Washington has a reputation for red wine grapes, the Ancient Lakes is best known for having a cooler climate and ideally suited for white varieties such as riesling, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc.

Documentary filmmaker Joanna James will be discussing her film “A Fine Line,” which she began working on in 2014 and is about the disparity women face in the culinary industry. She’ll be on the Main Stage at 2 p.m. Saturday, then takes part in a free full screening of “A Fine Line” and question-and-answer session at the Bing Crosby Theater at 7 p.m.

2019 Crave Food and Drink Celebration Main Stage headliner Anita M. Lo was the first female guest chef to cook for a White House State dinner, and her “Solo: A Modern Cookbook for a Party of One” was published by Knopf in 2018. Lo answered questions over the weekend amid the culmination of World Pride in New York City:

A decade ago, many Northwest rieslings would be on the sweet side. Thankfully, that is changing, blissfully so because more than any other wine, riesling can show astonishing range depending on where the grapes are grown and how dry the finished wine is left. As a bonus, one that surprises most, riesling can age remarkably – for those who have the patience to tuck them away.

Full of vibrant Mexican flavors, carne asada is steak that has been marinated and grilled. It’s thin sliced against the grain and typically served with warm tortillas and pico de gallo or alongside rice and beans and can be chopped up for tacos, salads, burritos and nachos.

Calling for a rack of ribs, liter of Coca-Cola and a cup of barbecue sauce, this recipe for slow cooker ribs couldn’t be any simpler. And since they’re made in a slow cooker, it’s an easy way to get your rib fix year round.

Baby Bar, known for its gem of a jukebox, all-around scrappiness and hand-written rules, is comforting in its no-nonsense but friendly approach to service. During the past dozen years, this hip but unpretentious downtown dive has established itself as a haven for local artists, musicians and misfits right alongside the likes of regular 9-to-5-ers and the occasional rock star.